BENGALURU: Former international goalkeeper Kuppuswami Sampath, who was part of the bronze medal winning team at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, passed away here on Tuesday after a cardiac arrest. He was 76.
Sampath's demise comes days after the state team won the Santosh Trophy after 54 years. He was the custodian of the Mysore team which won the title at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in 1969. In 1970, he also helped India to finish third in the Merdeka Cup. Besides Mysore, he also played for Services and Goa at the Nationals.
"He was a daring goalkeeper who wore the state colours as a teenager and excelled in his first Nationals in Quilon in 1965. Sampath, who was around 6' 2'', played for MEG in the local league before turning out for India. Later, he joined Mohammedan Sporting and then Dempo," MS Krishnamurthy, Sampath's teammate in the 1969 squad, told TOI. "But injury hampered his career. He was with me and Arumainayagam for the NIS diploma course in 1981."
Sampath played in all major tournaments in the country, including IFA Shield, Durand and Rovers Cup. He was India's goalkeeping coach at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. He also mentored BEL and Madras University.
Sampath, who is survived by his wife Yamuna and daughter Rajeswari Devi, was keen on promoting and grooming local talent. He ran the Tilak Memorial FC who are now in the A Division. "The club is my father's pride and I will run it in his honour," said Rajeswari, an HR manager with an MNC.
Sampath's funeral was held on Tuesday, The KSFA has mourned his death.
